Welcome to Work from Home Series~Part III…
We have spoken about what “I” have done in the past/present, what is out there if you want something ‘structured’ with criteria to meet, people to ‘report’ to…but what if you want your own business but do not want the overhead, and maybe are not one to ‘sell’ an actual product? Then what?
This is when you sit down with a notebook and start writing ideas of what you CAN do. One of the top ways to start working toward your own business is to start a blog.
A blog you say? But how will that make me money? Blogging doesn’t immediately start rolling in the money-but it is a starting point. You can start a free blog on blogger through Google, although I feel, and this is just my opinion… it usually takes money to make money. For instance you can get a .info domain name through GoDaddy for $3.24, at the time of writing this for the first year. You can get inexpensive hosting for $5.00 a month or less or more. $5.00 a month is 1 Pay-Per-View movie, or 1 Dunkin Donuts Coffee Latte Large with whip cream, or….well you get the picture. So an inexpensive domain name, and $5.00 for your first month hosting, less than $10.00 to start. You might have to start with a free wordpress theme or find a friend that is just starting out designing-but its ok- you are just starting out. BUT with a self-hosted blog you can put ads on it, ie. Google Adsense, paid posts, guest posts that can make you money. One post for $15.00 pays your initial investment and leaves you a profit of approximately $5.00.
SO now what do you blog about? These are some ideas to ponder:
Life Experiences.
Parenthood: Pregnancy, Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teen-agers, Young Adults: you have either been one, had one, raised one,or know one, have known some….
Have you worked in a previous job and maybe are now home with the child(ren)? You can write about it. How to’s are very popular and most likely there is someone out there that is wanting/needing more information on that subject.
Do you cook, bake, have a camera? You can blog about it, include pictures, share your recipes, your dishes etc.
Have you watched children, had a daycare, worked in a daycare, know the rules in your state? Again you can write about it.
Do you use coupons? This is a huge market-how to save money, where to save money….
How to use Social Media, how to use SEO
How to interview for a job, how to make a resume, how to prepare for a new job (scheduling, home/work life ….etc)
Being a Mommy, being a Daddy, being a Grandma, single mom household, single dad household, grandparent raising their grandchildren
Covering entertainment (TV shows, Movies, Books etc)
Book Reviewer, Author of a book(s)
Game Review Site
Humor, Jokes, Funnies
Local Website (about your town, area, tourist type)
What other ideas can you come up with? When starting a web site, it is nice to have a niche but isn’t required. As you can see from my list there are so many different things you can blog about. You can also combined some of these things. I didn’t even mention a review/giveaway site-but sometimes you want to start out and get some time/posts into it before pitching companies. This will give you a following which PR people like to see before they hand over their product.
As long as you remember it doesn’t happen overnight. You have to build and surround yourself with online people that you can see how they do things. Want to be a blogger about Entertainment? Search on Facebook for Entertainment pages- or Google “Entertainment” for websites. Then fan/follow as many as you can to see how they do things. (This is just an example). There are so many options to write about. People really enjoy reading other people’s ‘real-life’. Toddler stories are funny, and enjoyable. In this day and age a lot of sites are mainly full of promotion (there is nothing wrong with that) but the art of blogging is being lost-and you can help find it again.
Once you get your idea, get your domain name, get your hosting……sign up with Google Analytics (to track your site), and Google Adsense (google.adsense.com) to sign up to put ads on your website. These are just for starters.
Since you are on my website-you will notice I do offer hosting ($5.00 a month) for my smallest plan~Perfect for the new blogger… feel free to contact me via my contact form. OR any other place you want to host through; doesn’t have to be me. The biggest thing this alleviates is all of your hard work when you decide you want to transfer to self-hosted and have to pay someone to do so -you will have saved yourself $135 (give or take) and the headache of hoping all of your posts, comments come over…just trying to save a bit of headache. Also think of it as an investment in YOU.
Just a few tips:
When purchasing a domain name try not to make it TOO controlled. Meaning “Mommy’s Blog on Diapering”…isn’t going to give you a lot of leeway if after the diapers are gone you want to write about saving money. So possibly “Luanne’s Life Adventures” just for instance…
Purchase 1 year to start for your domain name ‘just in case’ you find it isn’t what you wanted to do after all…
Surround yourself with like-minded people.-cause honestly most of my family doesn’t get ‘what i do’… but that is ok, cause I do.
Enjoy what you do-and remember “how do you eat an elephant?” – One Piece at a Time. The same with a new business-take it one piece at a time.
To avoid too much information; as I feel I have given you probably more than needed for this post- I will continue this in “Work from Home Series~Part IV”
If you are just arriving here and haven’t had a chance to read Part I and Part II you can find those 2 links right below here in this post:
http://stonealley4wp.info/2012/04/15/work-from-home-series-part-1/
http://stonealley4wp.info/2012/04/17/work-from-home-series-part-ii/
And by the way IF you are already a blogger- leave your link in my comments with your ‘Specialty’ after it…or niche or what have you… this way people looking for models can find you easier!
About Becky
Twitter: raenclowds
says:
Good info, I just stumbled on part 3 so I will be checking out parts 1 & 2 and also keeping up with this series.
I have got a very new blog I started in conjunction with my business, but I also talk about other things I am interested in and life experiences.
http://www.raenclowds.com
Ashley Rae recently posted..Brinsea Incubator Giveaway
Thank you for stopping Ashley, my biggest struggle is what to write about lol so I am happy that this series is helpful to some.
Twitter: kristinnw
says:
Nice work, good series overall…once I get my health on track, I need to buckle down and start using some of these ideas/suggestions!!
Kristin recently posted..Win Your Nursery!
#1 is getting your health on track, then you can go from there! I love your blog and all of your Entertainment posts!
http://www.mycreativerse.com is a blog that is all about creativity from photography, cards and art to DIY ideas, reviews and giveaways
http://www.sadiebakes.com is all about baking, cooking and sharing recipes that does reviews and soon giveaways
http://www.lifewithdisabilites.blogspot.com is about how my son and I handle things in life as we do it differently abled. Reviews and soon giveaways
Heather Beyant recently posted..Me and Mine
Thank you for leaving your blog links!
Twitter: nicoyle
says:
Great tips on different ideas that you can write about in a blog. I hope to one day soon make the leap of getting my own domain.
Nicoyle recently posted..Bogger Sign-ups Event: 1K 1.5ct Blue Diamond Earring GIVEAWAY
Thank you for commenting Nicoyle- you will achieve that, I am sure of it. One step at a time!
Twitter: determineddiary
says:
This is all great advice and I love your list of niches!
I wish I would have known you and your hosting plans when I first started this. Blogger is frustrating!
Determined Momma recently posted..Cheshire Crossing Animal Hospital
Well I understand what you are saying BUT you decided to start and this is what worked for you to start out with. It won’t be forever and you will be self-hosted before you know it!
Twitter: wahmsha
says:
I have always tried to find a “niche” for blogging but it really never worked out for me. One really does need to sit and write out a “plan” and decide if what they want to do. I now own a Giveaway Blog (not listed here – but my twitter is below!) that took me almost two years to really get it going. I chose to do a blog for Giveaways, steals & deals because I have always been the kind of person that loves to help out others.
Sha recently posted..Plates, Chains and Dangles… oh my!
I think it is great that you love to help others out! Whatever you choose to do for your blog makes it special & helpful is an added bonus!
Great ideas to help someone starting out with a blog and trying to pick their “topics”!
Jen – Life With Levi recently posted..Boba Makes Babywearing Easy
Thank you Jen! I appreciate you stopping by!
Twitter: philzendia
says:
Thanks for the great ideas on topics to cover in your blog. I sometimes get stuck and can’t think of a topic so this is helpful.
Diane N – Philzendia recently posted..Making the Switch to Eco Friendly Products With the Help of Duane Reade
Thank you for stopping by Diane
. I have found lately I think about all of the possible ideas for a blog and realize I can’t do them all-so I felt they were fitting to share; or helpful I should say.
I just started blogging a little over a month ago. I’ve already had over 2000 page views! I don’t think you can put my blog in a “niche,” it’s basically all over the place, but it’s all about my kids, some “things to do in my town/state” posts, and some other random topics. So maybe it’d be a “Random” type blog. I’d love to start over on WP (With all of my blogs lol), but I really need to save up some money first.
Melody recently posted..Rainy Days and Thursday’s
Hi Melody- It is more than fine to have a “Random” blog especially if you have many things you want to cover in one place. Random is just a niche I didn’t think about including but it definitely works!
Twitter: sadie_lankford
says:
Wow Becky this is TONS of info.. thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. You’re great.
Sadie recently posted..10 Things I Learned at Bloggy Bootcamp #BBCSTL
Thank you Sadie- I am trying to get a Part IV going but do not want to ramble or repeat…
Here is my blog: http://womanofmanyroles6.blogspot.com/ It’s just about life as a mom. I started blogging in Jan. So I am always on the look out for information on blogging! Thanks so much for sharing!
Jacqui Odell recently posted..Mother’s Day, It’s Our Day Giveaway – Envirosax Bag
Thank you for stopping by Jacuqi- if there was 1 thing or 2 you would like to learn more about; what would that be?
This is fantastic info!! I wish i had found this info before i started blogging last year. I have been fumbling in the dark. I am going to start following you on aregular basis!
summerdavis recently posted..Giving Back to The Boys & Girls Club #OdwallaCFK #CBias
Thank you Summer! I really appreciate your comment! I will be writing Part IV very soon.
Twitter: BDandV
says:
This is great information! I actually have two blogs and a ghost of a tumbler.
http://thirtyonedaysofdevotion.blogspot.com/2012/04/to-z-is-up-to-v.html – I started this one to showcase some of the entries in a 31 day devotional I am writing, and it’s also my writing blog. It grew into more than that, and took a shape of it’s own.
http://blackdivorcedandvirtuous.blogspot.com/ – Divorce is emotional, physical, mental and spiritual – for every involved party. When it’s over, healing and reshaping of relationship has to happen for healthy, successful people to emerge from the ashes. You have to do the work.
Thank you for posting your links Elizabeth- I have been to visit your 31 Days of Devotion..will have to drop by your 2nd one!
Twitter: KallieGreenly
says:
What great info! Thanks for sharing.
My blog is http://www.life-in-texas.com
I blog about crafts, product reviews and just life.
Kallie Greenly recently posted..T is for Tires and Treats
Thank you Kallie for stopping by- and leaving your blog link
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Twitter: MatterofCents
says:
Another great post in the series! You rock and thanks for sharing the knowledge you’ve gained with blogging! It really does help!
My most active blog is http://matterofcents.net. It started as a coupon/deals blog, evolved into product reviews/giveaways, and now I do weekly features and book tours. I also have a crafts one, http://matterofcrafts.com (not quite as active, but still working on it).
Thank you Adelina, and I am glad you included your links.
Thanks for doing this series… I am gleening lots of bits of good information.
I am so glad working on the next ‘chapter’.
Twitter: ecocrazymom
says:
My name is Terri, and I am the founder of Eco-Crazy Mom- a blog dedicated to helping
moms go green, without going crazy. I started this blog to share my passion for sustainable living with others, and prove that if I can go green, truly anyone can!
http://www.ecocrazymom.com